SIEM REAP, Cambodia – The picturesque Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwestern Cambodia is a must-visit destination for many travelers. It is home to ancient temples, beautiful landscapes, and of course, the charismatic macaques who roam freely around the area. However, in recent years, the behavior of some people towards these monkeys has raised serious concerns.
Videos of monkeys being physically abused on the grounds of Angkor have surfaced online, shocking viewers around the world. In one clip, a man can be seen holding a baby monkey by the neck and repeatedly dousing it with water, while in another, a juvenile male macaque is subjected to inappropriate behavior for the sake of a camera. These acts of cruelty paint a disturbing picture of the growing trend of exploiting the monkeys for online views and monetary gain.
The Angkor archaeological site is managed by APSARA, a Cambodian office responsible for overseeing its preservation and protection. According to Long Kosal, spokesperson for APSARA, the monkeys at Angkor are being treated like domestic pets, when in fact, they should be living in the wild. The main reason for this is the increasing demand for online content featuring the monkeys, which is used to generate money through platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
The situation has become a major concern for APSARA, as they have limited resources to deal with it. However, they have taken the first step by opening an investigation with the Ministry of Agriculture to collect evidence against the most serious abusers. Long Kosal assures that any animal abusers caught will face strict punishment according to Cambodian law.
Although YouTube, Facebook, and other sites remove videos with graphic content, there are still numerous clips of cute monkeys jumping and playing that remain, generating thousands of views and subscribers. The making of these videos involves close interaction with the monkeys, which has created a host of other problems for both the macaques and the visitors of Angkor.
On a recent day outside the famous Bayon Temple, a dozen young men crowded around a group of long-tailed macaques, pushing in close to get the perfect shot. The monkeys, who are supposed to be wild animals, were being fed bananas and water from plastic bottles. This kind of feeding is not only frowned upon, but it also makes the monkeys dependent on human handouts. As a result, they have become increasingly aggressive towards tourists, causing injuries and creating a safety risk.
The search for food from tourists also draws the monkeys away from their natural habitat in the surrounding jungle and into the ancient temple sites. This not only damages the temples but also disrupts the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Tourists visiting Angkor are advised to keep a safe distance from the monkeys and not to feed them.
Cadi Hutchings, a tourist from Wales, understands the need to maintain a boundary between human intervention and nature. She is aware of the danger of being bitten by the monkeys and believes that tourists should be cautious while visiting a place like Angkor, which is home to a diverse range of wildlife. She also acknowledges the positive impact of tourism on the local economy but stresses the importance of responsible tourism.
However, not all tourists are as cautious as Hutchings. Many are seen taking their own photos and videos, often holding out bananas to attract the monkeys. This kind of behavior not only puts the visitors at risk but also encourages the monkeys to become more comfortable around humans, leading to further aggressive behavior.
Ium Daro, a YouTuber who started filming the monkeys at Angkor three months ago, follows a mother and her baby along a dirt path, holding his iPhone on a selfie stick to get a closer shot. He claims to have never witnessed any physical abuse towards the monkeys and believes that what they are doing is not a problem since they are also providing food to the monkeys in return for their pictures. However, this kind of thinking is detrimental to the well-being of the monkeys and only perpetuates the cycle of exploitation.
Another YouTuber, Phut Phu, works as a salaried employee of a YouTube page operator. He started filming monkeys two and a half years ago and claims that it has helped him deal with a lung problem. He is out filming daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and earns $200 a month, which is equivalent to a minimum-wage job in Cambodia. While he sees this as a means to supplement his income, he fails to realize the negative impact it has
